The TRN Shell ranks #553 out of 1061 total In-Ear Headphones for sound quality. See all Headphones rankings for every top pick.
Brand: TRN
Prices on this page were last checked October 15, 2026 at 5:41 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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#553 TRN Shell: $50.99 Amazon $50.99 eBay
Pros: A budget hybrid with three dynamic drivers and a planar, plus three swappable tuning nozzles. Measurements show full sub-bass to 20 Hz (score 70 across six measurements).
Cons: A 2.15 dB spread from the target still leaves some peaks and dips.
Is the TRN Shell right for you?
Buy it if
- you want sub-bass rumble that reaches down to 20 Hz.
- you are happy to use EQ: our preset lifts its Harman match by about 20 points.
Skip it if
- you want the best value: the higher-rated EPZ G10 costs about $27 less.
| Released | 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.15 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Hybrid |
| Drivers | 3 x dynamic + 1 x 6mm planar |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 70 (median of 6 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+0.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ Presets
Harman target
Set a preamp of -5.7 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 6 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Harman match with this EQ: 90 out of 100, up from 70.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -1.1 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 186 Hz | -4.1 dB | 0.83 |
| Peak | 800 Hz | +1.5 dB | 2.18 |
| Peak | 1,800 Hz | -1.6 dB | 3.87 |
| Peak | 3,083 Hz | +1.9 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,665 Hz | +6.0 dB | 3.07 |
Neutral target
Set a preamp of -5.7 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 6 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Neutral match with this EQ: 91 out of 100, up from 34.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -9.6 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 186 Hz | -4.0 dB | 0.73 |
| Peak | 763 Hz | +1.6 dB | 2.36 |
| Peak | 1,773 Hz | -1.6 dB | 3.05 |
| Peak | 3,082 Hz | +1.9 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,665 Hz | +6.0 dB | 3.07 |
Studio flat target
Set a preamp of -4.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 6 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Studio flat match with this EQ: 91 out of 100, up from 15.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -11.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 178 Hz | -5.9 dB | 0.76 |
| Peak | 801 Hz | +1.3 dB | 2.57 |
| Peak | 1,707 Hz | -1.8 dB | 3.99 |
| Peak | 2,926 Hz | +2.7 dB | 4.67 |
| Peak | 4,188 Hz | -2.1 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +2.4 dB | 0.45 |
| Peak | 7,724 Hz | -2.3 dB | 6.00 |
Warm target
Set a preamp of -4.0 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 6 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Warm match with this EQ: 93 out of 100, up from 78.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -0.8 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 186 Hz | -3.9 dB | 0.85 |
| Peak | 796 Hz | +1.8 dB | 1.99 |
| Peak | 1,883 Hz | -2.2 dB | 3.14 |
| Peak | 4,052 Hz | -1.5 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,802 Hz | +5.3 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 7,742 Hz | -3.1 dB | 6.00 |
Bass target
Set a preamp of -5.7 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 6 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bass match with this EQ: 92 out of 100, up from 73.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +2.7 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 186 Hz | -4.1 dB | 0.87 |
| Peak | 805 Hz | +1.5 dB | 2.26 |
| Peak | 1,799 Hz | -1.6 dB | 3.83 |
| Peak | 3,083 Hz | +1.9 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,666 Hz | +6.0 dB | 3.08 |
Bright target
Set a preamp of -6.0 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 6 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted Bright match with this EQ: 86 out of 100, up from 23.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -9.6 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -2.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 186 Hz | -4.0 dB | 0.71 |
| Peak | 773 Hz | +1.5 dB | 1.94 |
| Peak | 1,797 Hz | -1.7 dB | 3.80 |
| Peak | 3,090 Hz | +2.0 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.66 |
V-shaped target
Set a preamp of -5.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by Speaker Ranking from the median of 6 squig.link measurements, in the filter layout AutoEQ uses. Predicted V-shaped match with this EQ: 84 out of 100, up from 66.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +3.4 dB | 0.70 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 186 Hz | -2.7 dB | 0.91 |
| Peak | 1,702 Hz | -1.6 dB | 3.36 |
| Peak | 3,061 Hz | +2.3 dB | 5.72 |
| Peak | 5,345 Hz | +5.8 dB | 1.38 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Frequency Response
How the TRN Shell measures across the audible range, against the Harman in-ear target that most listeners prefer in blind tests. Where the line sits above the target that range sounds louder (more bass, brighter treble), below it quieter. The curve is the median of 6 independent measurements, so one odd sample or rig cannot skew it, and both lines are shifted so their 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB.
Measurement data: median of 6 measurements from the squig.link databases of atechreviews, audioamigo, digaoreviews, eplv, soundcheck39 and tonedeafmonk. Thanks to each of them for publishing their work.